How The Barbershop Makes You A Big Man

Copyright (c) 2009 Kennedy's All-American Club

A lot of you probably remember the great action flick, ?The Untouchables,? starring Kevin Costner from the late ?80?s. But how many of you remember how that film began?

Let?s think about what the filmmakers wanted to establish ? that Al Capone, the notorious gangster, ran Chicago and he was the king of the Windy City?s castle. So how did director Brian DePalma decide to visually achieve that in the opening shot of the film?

By showing Robert DeNiro as Al Capone in an upscale barbershop, getting the full treatment ? manicure, warm towel, straight razor shave, etc. ? being interviewed by newspaper reporters. With the barber chair serving as his throne. That?s how most men feel in the barber chair, to be honest. They?re being attended to in a place designed for guys. Where guys can feel comfortable, talk about guy stuff and leave looking and feeling their best. In these politically correct times, where the unisex salon franchise is all the rage, it means a lot to bring back that totally male experience. And it means a lot to have that kind of sanctuary and time to breathe in the middle of the day.

Let?s be honest, there are plenty of men out there who have grown up never setting foot in a barbershop. Now that?s a tragedy, plain and simple.

That?s why at some barbershops want to bring back that feeling and make guys feel like kings again just like in the old days. And they?re not alone - they?re part of a movement. Cool guys always look like they just came from the barbershop. You ever see James Bond with much of stubble (well, pre-Daniel Craig, that is)? Maybe after Dr. No locked up Bond overnight with Ursula Andress, but that situation is worth a little hair on your face.

Okay, maybe Clint Eastwood in a Western makes you think of stubble - and he?s close to being the coolest guy in the world. Well, surprise, surprise, even Clint took time out for a haircut and shave in ?High Plains Drifter,? when he patronized a barbershop in an old Western town.

Of course, since it is a Clint Western, three gunslingers come in to ambush him ? and out from under his barber cape, Clint brings up his six-gun and quickly puts them down on the floor next to his hair clippings.

Yes, we men like to be pampered. But we also like to feel in charge too. You know, like we could take out any three guys coming after us in about three seconds. The barbershop satisfies all those basic male requirements.

But Eastwood fans, please note - most barbershops do discourage the firing of guns in their locations.



October 21, 2009
By Kennedy Kennedy
Kennedy's All-American Barber Club

Barbershop

Best Hair Salon Treats Clients Passionately

If your ambition is to be the best hair salon in your town then you won't really have much competition.

The best salon will induldge their clients with good customer service along with delivering the client's desire for that session.

I can guarantee to you that most (the 80/20 rule applies) don't and won't discipline themselves to do what you do. And won't have the results that you do either. They (the 80%) won't sell themselves as you will simply because the energy required to be the best is too great for most.

You can't fake enthusiasm and you can't create a faux compassion for your work if it's not burning inside.
It does come from an inside source and it exposes itself to those that you serve.

Hair professionals give exceptional service to their clients sincerely because that passion to give ... is already there and it comes out in a natural way to each of their clients. Now, with that being recognized, let's look at some of the things that the best hair salon would give because we can all learn how to be "the best."

Let's start with; producing a high quality salon experience. Isn't it amazing that some of the hair stylists that would like to make the most think the least about giving their clients specifically what they came in for.

And so instead of building a monstrous client base one client at a time, they promote a cattle run and push as many as they can into their chairs. So, when times do get tough (like right now) their customers don't feel any loyalty to them because they want to get some extra for their investment.

That's called value and you and I love exactly the same thing when we spend money. We want a great value for the money that we lay down on the counter.

When you create a high caliber salon experience for your clients, in effect you're disclosing to them that they won't get treated like this anywhere else. So, yes, they might spend a couple more dollars with you but they will realize that they have been to the best salon as well.

This absolutely shows your passion for your trade and towards helping people ... those everyday people that desire the extra psychological edge of looking and feeling good about themselves. Because that internal affirmation is used by them in their heart to produce the very best that they can be in their related field. And it is all generated by you.

The best hair salon is achieved by the best in the business. Caring, compassionate hairdressers that absolutely love what they do and the outcome that they create in the hearts and minds of their clients. So let me pose this question to you; can you change the outward look of someone that spends time with you today?

Can that penetrate deep down into their inner being and give off genuine energy and compassion for their work? Yes, and yes!

Recognizing the "power of change" that comes from quality time with a quality hairdresser creates in the clients mind the "best hair salon" and deals more than just some satisfaction to you. It will bring in new clients for you to perform your creative talents on in the not to distant future.

Don't we all want some more customers that not only recognize what we do but appreciate it as well?
It's a rhetorical question but it's true ... we all seek to be understood and applauded. So who goes first?

I think that it better be me ... then I can expect my folks to respond to my endeavors with their kudos.

You might not believe this, but most hair stylists under-serve their customers. And if you’d like to know how to increase the loyalty of your clients especially in these challenging times get a report on how most hair stylists under-serve their customers.

(ArticlesBase ID #614447)



September 15, 2009
By Bill Slater
Writer, Teacher, Small Business Owner
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/best-hair-salon-treats-clients-passionately-614447.html